Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerSeen in the screen of a news video camera, Harry Pozycki Chairman of the Citizen's Campaign, unveils "The Peoples Toolkit" at the Statehouse this morning. The toolkit is designed to rein in wasteful spending by municipalities, counties and school districts through 15 model laws and resolutions that will "put the power in citizen's hands".

TRENTON — With high profile insurance fraud cases popping up in New Jersey towns and schools, a citizens advocacy group says local governments should be required to seek a minimum of three insurance quotes before settling on one.

The idea is part of 15 ready-made ordinances the Citizens Campaign has put together for New Jersey residents to take directly to their local governments. They call it the "People’s Tool Kit" and say it can help curtail property taxes without waiting for state action.

In Toms River, where former superintendent Michael Ritacco has been charged with taking bribes from an insurance contractor, Frank Kenny plans to take the resolution to the Toms River Regional Board of Education.

"We have all kinds of emotions raging in Toms River. It’s tough to talk to my friends and neighbors about it, but I think we could turn this into something positive," said Kenny, chairman of the Citizens’ Campaign Ocean County chapter. The resolution would also require full disclosure of all fees and commissions paid to insurance brokers.

Citizens Campaign founder Harry Pozycki said similar efforts are underway in Perth Amboy, where the same insurance broker accused of bribing Ritacco, Francis X. Gartland, is accused of bilking the city and its school system out of $2.7 million.

But League of Municipalities Counsel Bill Kearns, who represents Florence Township and Edgewater Park in Burlington County, said many towns already check the market before committing to an insurance plan. "Most do," he said. "Are there going to be towns that don’t? Yes."

Other ideas put forward by the group include having towns make their major purchases through their county to save money; applying for federal grants for rebates and funding to implement energy savings measures; and banning health benefits for part-time elected and appointed officials in towns where the statewide ban does not apply.

Editor's note: The story has been modified to correct the spelling of Harry Pozycki, the Citizens' Campaign chairman.